Chrysler Announces Merger with Fiat

Automaker will file for Chapter 11 to hasten return to profitability

Chrysler Chairman and CEO, Bob Narelli

Chrysler announced today that it is going ahead with a global strategic alliance with Fiat SpA. The Big Three automaker also confirmed that it is filing for Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, to hasten its return to profitability.

“My number one priority has been to preserve Chrysler and the thousands of people who depend on its success,” said chairman and CEO, Bob Nardelli. “While I am excited by the creation of the global alliance, I am personally disappointed that today Chrysler has filed for Chapter 11. This was not my first choice.”

Nardelli also announced his plans to leave Chrysler following the emergence of the new company from Chapter 11, and the completion of the alliance with Fiat. He will return to Cerberus Capital Management LP as an advisor.

What does this mean to current owners of Chrysler vehicles? According to Nardelli, it will be business as usual through the restructuring.

“We want to personally assure everyone that the new company will produce and support quality vehicles under the Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler brands as well as parts under the Mopar brand,” said Nardelli. “Chrysler employees will become employees of the new company. Chrysler dealerships remain open for business serving our customers. All vehicle warranties will be honored without interruption, and consumers can continue to purchase our vehicles with complete confidence.” Read the rest of this entry »

Waxing protects against weather damage

Car wax and interior conditioners help to maintain a like-new appearance

Turtle Wax

Car dealers know how important it is to make used cars look good. Customers don’t want to buy a previous owner’s dirt, any more than they want to inherit mechanical problems. In addition to enhancing resale value, car wax and conditioning products protect vehicles against damage from pollution, moisture and sun.

When I was a kid, tuning up and waxing the car were semi-annual rituals. While paint finishes have come a long way since the carburetor days, it’s still important to wax the car regularly, and maintain vinyl and upholstery with appropriate conditioning products.

The folks at Turtle Wax have put together a list of five common car care myths and the truths behind them.

1. New vehicles don’t need to be waxed: Not true say the polish experts. Car waxing cleans and protects the car’s finish against pollution, moisture and sun damage.

2. Dishwashing detergent is safe to use as car wash: True, but not recommended. While dishwashing detergent will clean the surface, it can also strip the finish of polymers. Use a car wash detergent diluted with water to avoid rubbing paint off the car.

3. The longer the duration of a wax job, the better the shine and protection: True. In general, the quality of a vehicle’s appearance is proportional to the time and care spent detailing it. Note that the protective and shine qualities of various wax products differ, as well as their application methods.

4.  Waxing once a year is enough to protect the vehicle’s exterior: False. Use beading as an indication of when the car needs to be re-waxed. If the beads are smaller than a quarter in a rainstorm or after washing, the wax barrier is still active. If water starts to form elongated beads or a thin sheet on horizontal panels, it’s time to re-wax.

5. Using a protectant too frequently can cause leather and interior plastics to dry out and crack: False. Interior conditioners prevent stiffening and shrinking of interior materials to maintain their like-new condition.

There is one situation in which car owners should avoid waxing: after collision repair that includes repainting. A good body shop technician will know how long the paint needs to cure before it’s safe to apply wax. For more information on Turtle Wax, visit the company’s web site.

2009 G37 Sedan AWD

All-wheel drive gives Infiniti’s sport sedan four-season performance

By Nina Russin

2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan

After living with the G37 sedan for the past week, I’ve decided that it shouldn’t be driven below eighty miles-per-hour. This isn’t to say that Infiniti’s sport sedan lacks handling finesse at lower speeds: rather, that eighty is the point at which the car’s inner beauty and beast emerge.

I’ve driven very few cars that stay glued to the pavement the way this one does. All-wheel drive makes the car weatherproof. But unlike some all-wheel drive systems, Infiniti’s active torque management doesn’t interfere with the sedan’s rear-wheel bias on dry roads.

Infinitis are their own animals, in part because of the front mid-ship layout which locates the engine behind the front axle. The automaker’s production models bear the fruit of extensive F-1 racing experience, with aerodynamic enhancements above and below the chassis.

Buyers who define sports car by the amount of growl out the exhaust, or the humpity, humpity, humpity a radical cam produces car at idle, won’t find the G37 very interesting. It isn’t a “race it on Sunday, run whiskey in it Sunday night,” kind of car.

But enthusiasts looking for a sport sedan as close to high-revving, open-wheel race cars as possible will feel right at home in the G37. It’s not exactly a wolf in sheep’s clothing; more like a tightly-wound snake with a very long reach. Read the rest of this entry »

Lexus Reveals Pricing for 2010 RX 450h

Hybrid sport-utility vehicle averages 30 mpg

2010 Lexus RX 450h

Today, Lexus announced pricing for its second-generation hybrid sport-utility vehicle: the RX 450h. Base MSRP is $41,660 for the front-wheel drive model and $43,250 for the all-wheel drive version. Prices do not include an $875 delivery charge.

Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 Atkinson cycle engine and electric motors: combined, they produce 295 horsepower. In addition to being more powerful than the outgoing model, the RX 450h yields a one mile-per-gallon improvement in average fuel economy.

Standard active safety features include antilock braking, hill start assist, vehicle stability and traction control. The RX 450h comes with ten standard airbags, including knee airbags for the driver and front passenger.

Buyers can opt to add adaptive front lighting, pre-collision assist and dynamic radar cruise control. An available navigation system includes voice recognition on certain functions.

The audio system comes prewired for XM satellite radio and Bluetooth interface. An optional rear-seat entertainment system includes two high-definition screens in the front seatbacks. An available heads-up display projects speed, navigation and audio information in the lower part of the windshield, so the driver can keep his eyes on traffic.

The Lexus RX 450h meets California’s Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standards, with a seventy-percent reduction in harmful tailpipe emissions compared to conventional vehicles.

Fusion Hybrid Goes the Distance

Ford team reaches 80 mpg on thousand-mile trek

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

This morning, a team of professional drivers and engineers hit the thousand mile mark in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. When the team reached its checkpoint, the Fusion still had a third of its original tank of gas remaining.

The 1000-Mile Challenge is a fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The driving team began its trek in Mount Vernon, Virginia Saturday morning. The Fusion continues its journey till it runs out of gas. The team expects to finish the drive tomorrow morning in Washington DC.

Throughout the event, the driving team is conducting clinics on eco-driving techniques. Unlike hypermiling which focuses solely on fuel economy, eco-driving teaches car owners how to equal or lessen their commute times by choosing alternate routes, and by moving through traffic more efficiently.

A key technique involves maintaining engine speeds under 2,000 rpm. To do this, drivers must feather the throttle during acceleration. Drivers learn to avoid hard braking, and use the car’s kinetic energy to reduce fuel usage on hilly roads.

The Fusion Hybrid team achieved fuel economy is excess of 80 miles-per-gallon during the 1000-Mile Challenge. For more eco-driving tips, visit Ford’s web site.

Down to Four

General Motors restructuring plan cuts brand offerings in half by 2010

Henderson

This morning, General Motors revealed an updated viability plan that focuses on four core brands in the US: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC. The automaker will phase out Saab, Saturn and Hummer by the end of this year. Pontiac operations continue to the end of 2010.

“We are taking tough but necessary actions that are critical to GM’s long-term viability,” said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. “At the same time… we will  do whatever we can to mitigate the effects on the extended GM team.”

General Motors anticipates a 42 percent reduction in dealerships, from 6,246 in 2008 to 3,605 by the end of 2010. The restructuring will result in a production drop of 190,000 vehicles in the second and third quarters of 2009.

The plan lowers GM’s break-even point, improving its ability to generate positive cash flow: as required by the US Treasury in its March 30 viability assessment.

The plan also pares down structural costs, reducing the number of assembly, powertrain and stamping plants in the US by 28 percent at the end of 2010. The automaker will use flexible manufacturing, which allows multiple models to be built in one plant, to use its capital more efficiently.

In addition, the automaker is cutting hourly labor costs 34 percent by the end of 2010. Together, cutbacks in manufacturing facilities and employees will reduce GM’s structural costs 25 percent.

GM will continue to invest in future products and new technologies, concentrating on fuel efficiency improvements and alternative fuel power trains. The automaker is continuing development of the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric car. The Volt goes into production at the beginning of 2010, and rolls into dealerships shortly thereafter.

“The viability plan reflects the direction of President Obama and the US Treasury that GM should go further and faster on our restructuring,” said Henderson. “This stronger, leaner business model will enable GM… to develop new advanced propulsion technologies that are vital for our country’s economy and environment.”

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

Compact sport-utility vehicle with a green connection

By Nina Russin

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

Ford broke into the hybrid market with the Escape four years ago. Since then, Ford’s green SUV has undergone numerous technology updates: this year it gets a new inline-four cylinder engine that develops twenty more horsepower and twelve foot-pounds of torque over the unit it replaces. EPA fuel economy is slightly higher than the outgoing model.

The test car is the front-wheel drive model. Buyers can opt for an on-demand four-wheel drive system that has better all-weather performance. The down side is a considerable reduction in gas mileage: about four miles-per-gallon less than the front-wheel drive car.

For the first time, Ford is also offering a premium model.  The Escape Limited Hybrid comes with special wheels and chrome accents on the exterior. Inside, buyers get an upgraded audio package. Ford’s keypad entry system is also standard.

For 2009, all Escape models have Ford’s capless refueling system that automatically seals when the driver removes the filler nozzle. The system reduces evaporative emissions, and eliminates an unnecessary piece of hardware.

Roll stability control is now standard. The system uses gyroscopic sensors to measure both yaw and roll, and takes measures as necessary to reduce the risk of rollovers. Read the rest of this entry »

Volvo releases R-Design Package

Styling enhancements give the C30, S40 and V50 extra attitude

Volvo R-Design package

When designer, Peter Horbury, first came  to Volvo in the early 1990s, he gave the brand a much-needed facelift. Boxy sedans and wagons gave way to elegant cars that combined Volvo’s humanism with Horbury’s post-modern panache.

It’s kismet that Volvo introduces its R-style kit for the C30, S40 and V50, just as Horbury prepares for his return to the mother ship. “R” is Volvo’s designation for performance-tuning. In this case, R connotes styling enhancements that also boost performance.

Customers can choose from ten exterior colors. On the outside, the R-Design package includes front and rear spoilers, ground effects, a larger exhaust pipe, seventeen-inch Serapis alloy wheels, special door and mirror trim.

Interior upgrades include special upholstery with R-Design inserts, R-Design center stack and panel inlays, special gauges, aluminum sport pedals, leather sport steering wheel, and a leather and aluminum shift lever.

For more information on Volvo’s current model line-up, visit the consumer web site.

A Thousand Miles on a Single Tank of Gas

Ford driving team will see if the Fusion Hybrid can go the distance

Ford Fusion Hybrid

This weekend, a team of Ford drivers is attempting a thousand-mile trek in the Fusion Hybrid to raise awareness about eco-driving techniques and raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In order to go the distance on a single tank of gas, the mid-sized sedan needs to average 57 miles-per-gallon. In tests, the Fusion has achieved 70 mile-per-gallon fuel economy.

The driving team consists of hypermiling champ, Wayne Gerdes, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, Sherif Marakby and Gil Portalatin- both from the Fusion development team, and two of Ford’s hybrid experts, Tom Rolewicz and Steve Burke.

The 1000-Mile Challenge begins Saturday morning in Mount Vernon, Virginia, and ends Monday in Washinton, DC. The drivers will do stints of two-to-three hours apiece, for a total driving time of 43 consecutive hours. The Fusion Hybrid they are driving is a factory model with no modifications, which runs on regular 87 octane gasoline.

The Fusion team wants to share the following eco-driving tips with consumers:
Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
Gradual acceleration and braking;
Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to conserve fuel;
Minimizing heater and air conditioner use to reduce engine load;
Using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills and downhill momentum to build speed;
Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum; and
Maintaining a safe following distance, and anticipating traffic conditions.

For more information on this weekend’s thousand-mile challenge, visit the Ford web site.

Audi A4 2.0 TDI e Launches in June

Hi-tech diesel sedan leads sedan segment in efficiency.

Audi A4 2.0 TDI e

Audi is on a diesel rampage. After whooshing to victory at Le Mans three years running, the Audi R10 TDI has made a mockery of the notion of slow, noisy diesels. Now, with the European launch of the A4 2.0 TDI e, the German carmaker has raised the bar for sedan efficiency as well. The A4 sedan and it’s sport-wagon sibling, the Avant, are the fourth model to get the TDI treatment in the Audi range. Audi is calling this vehicle the most efficient in the standard-size segment, and with a fuel milage rating of over 50mpg it’s hard to argue with them.

Although the emphasis is on the turbocharged diesel engine and its direct injection system, this new Audi really achieves its goals through a symphony of advanced technical systems. The most obvious of these systems is a “start-stop” facility that shuts off the engine when it senses the car is at rest, in neutral with the driver’s foot off the clutch. As soon as the clutch is depressed the motor starts again. The system is said to reduce fuel consumption by about .085 gallons/100 miles. That might not sound like much, but combined with the TDI’s gas-sipping efficiency, a higher final drive ratio and low-resistance tires it all adds up to quite a savings over the life of the car. Another trick system is employed to convert braking energy into electrical power which is stored in the car’s battery. This allows the “smart” alternator to disconnect itself during acceleration putting less load on the motor and improving efficiency overall.

The A4 2.0 TDI e goes on sale in Europe this June with an expected retail around 30,800 Euros ($40,194 USD) but plans to bring it to America have not been announced at the moment, which is a shame. If fuel prices go ballistic again, or maybe if Audi can win the Daytona 500 with a TDI powered stock car there’ll finally be a mass market for it here in the USA.

• The new diesel-powered Audi A4 consumes 4.6 l/100 km (51.13 US mpg)

• Emissions are 119 grams of CO2 per kilometer (191.51 g/mile) 

• Market launch in early June at a price of 30,800 euros 

• A4 Avant also available as an ‘e’ model